CC Minutes - 11/25/02 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

hope for a peaceful future if citizens were no longer able to trust their representation at the local community level. He urged the council to help create an intelligent future by opposing the USA Patriot Act. Alexander Gonzales, 1457 Monroe Street, spoke as a working student at the University of Oregon. He said citizens were afraid of their government since the USA Patriot Act took away everything the country stood for. He raised concern that the youth of the country would grow up thinking that it was okay to racially profile citizens and conduct illegal searches. Guy Prouty, 408 Hunsaker, urged the council to pass a resolution against the USA Patriot Act. He said his family were living in fear as were all of his Islamic neighbors. He said the fear was based around the federal government's strong measures against basic rights and freedoms as American citizens. Mr. Prouty noted that he taught several online courses and raised concern that his online discussions were being monitored. He stressed the importance of having the right to have critical discussions without fear of persecution by the federal government. Dawn Peebles, 2715 Jefferson, said writing a letter rather than passing a resolution would be crawling rather than standing. She raised concern that ordinary citizens were living in fear of their federal government. She urged the council to honor the constitution so many millions had immigrated to live under, by passing a resolution against the USA Patriot Act. Mohammad Khan, 2940 Crescent Avenue, thanked the previous speakers for their opposition to the USA Patriot Act. He said the forefathers of the country wrote the Constitution because they came from countries where they were persecuted. He said he was happy to be a citizen of the United States. He quoted Benjamin Franklin who said: "Those who give up liberty for security deserve neither." Porsche Foster, 350 Pearl Street, said she had lived through many things in her 82 years that had troubled her very much. She said the USA Patriot Act and some of the provisions of the Homeland Security Act made her feel anything but secure. She said she was frightened that many of the things the country was founded on were going to be swept away unless citizens spoke out against it. She expressed a hope that the City leadership would take the lead in working for a more positive world were people could discuss issues without fear. She urged the council to pass a resolution opposing the USA Patriot Act. Councilor Fart thanked Steve Barnes and Betsy Boyd for their work on Measure 20-67. He said he enjoyed standing on the corner with signs to enlist the support of the community. Councilor Taylor thanked all of the people who came to the meeting. She said she was sorry that everyone who wanted to speak did not get a chance and that the three-minute time had been reduced. She said she intended to propose a resolution based on the recommendations of citizens. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Kelly, moved to pass a resolution of the City of Eugene, defending the Bill of Rights and civil liberties. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 25, 2002 Page 4 Regular Meeting